Plumbing is one of those things that can cause a homeowner to lose his mind. The concept of plumbing is not difficult to understand. Yet the practice of actually maintaining and repairing plumbing can get pretty complicated. Even the smallest job can have a homeowner wondering whether he should go the DIY route or call in a licensed plumbing contractor.

Comfort Solutions is a Utah HVAC and plumbing contractor serving West Haven and Sandy. They say they handle their fair share of calls from homeowners who avoid DIY plumbing entirely. They also answer calls from DIY homeowners who tried to handle a problem but failed.

Comfort Solutions will be the first to admit that DIY plumbing is an option. It might even have some advantages. But they also recommend calling in a licensed contractor if there is even a hint that a homeowner might not be able to handle a plumbing job correctly.

Why DIY Is Attractive

Spending a few minutes in the plumbing section at the local home improvement store makes it abundantly clear that DIY plumbing is alive and well. But why is it so attractive to homeowners? First and foremost is cost. When it comes to minor repairs, homeowners can do the work for a lot less.

DIY plumbing is attractive to some homeowners for other reasons:

• Convenience – Calling in a licensed plumbing contractor almost always means waiting. Unless you are looking at an emergency, it is likely you will have to schedule the work days or weeks down the road. On the other hand, a homeowner can go buy the parts and do the job whenever he is ready.
• The Challenge – There are those DIY homeowners who never turned down a challenge. Even if they have never handled a particular plumbing job before, they want to at least give it a try. Overcoming the challenge gives them a sense of satisfaction that they thrive on.
• A Learning Opportunity – The flipside of rising to the challenge is taking on DIY plumbing as a learning opportunity. DIY homeowners tend to like to learn as much as they can about their homes. So every new job represents an opportunity to learn something new.

Despite all the things that make DIY plumbing attractive, there are some definite downsides. At the top of the list is the risk of doing something incorrectly. Even a minor mistake can ultimately lead to a major plumbing disaster down the road.

Why Professional Service Is Attractive

Plumbing services can be expensive. There is no getting around it. But there are things about professional plumbing service that make it attractive. For me, the most attractive thing is not having to get my hands dirty. I don’t mind painting, replacing floors, fixing the roof, and taking care of the yard. But I’m not a big fan of plumbing. There’s just something about it that gets to me.

Even without a natural aversion to plumbing, I can think of additional reasons to choose it over DIY plumbing:

• Licensed plumbers are experts.
• Plumbers know which materials to use.
• Professional service guarantees code compliance.
• Contractors are insured.
• Warranties on new work are generally available.

To top it all off, DIY plumbing is time consuming. I don’t necessarily have hours to put into fixing a broken-down trash compactor or running new plumbing to accommodate my bathroom remodel. Not only that, but I would also probably spend a lot more time on the job than a plumber would.

Do you prefer DIY plumbing or bringing in a licensed professional? Both options have their upsides. Fortunately, you get to decide for yourself.